2008 Election Study


age. Derived from V083215x.

partyid. "Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a 
[DEMOCRAT, a REPUBLICAN / a REPUBLICAN, a DEMOCRAT], an 
INDEPENDENT, or what?" Derived from V083097.
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1. Democrat
2. Republican
3. Independent
4. Other party (SPECIFY)
5. No preference {VOL}

race. Derived from V081102.
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1. White
2. Black/African-American
4. Other race

*"White and black" was an option but zero respondents chose it. Additionally, I coded mixed-race answers as NA because the mixes of race were unspecified and therefore too
ambiguous to be very useful.


education. "What is the highest degree that you have earned?" Derived from V083218b
1. Bachelor's degree
2. Master's degree
3. PhD, LIT, SCD, DFA, DLIT, DPH, DPHIL, JSC, SJD
4. LLB, JD
5. MD, DDS, DVM, MVSA, DSC, DO
6. JDC, STD, THD
7. Associate degree (AA)
0. No degree earned


Feeling thermometers

cfundamentals. "CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS". Derived from V085064b.
feminists. "FEMINISTS". Derived from V085064d.
fedgov. "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON". Derived from V085064e.
midclass. "MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE". Derived from V085064h.
military. "The Military". Derived from V085064m.
bigbiz. "BIG BUSINESS". Derived from V085064n.
welfareppl. "PEOPLE ON WELFARE". Derived from V085064p.
workclass. "WORKING CLASS PEOPLE". Derived from V085064r.
environmentalists. "ENVIRONMENTALISTS". Derived from V085064s.
gays. "GAY MEN AND LESBIANS (HOMOSEXUALS)". Derived from V085064u.
asians. "ASIAN-AMERICANS". Derived from V085064v.
blacks. "BLACKS". Derived from V085064y.
southerners. "SOUTHERNERS". Derived from V085064z.
undocumented. "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS". Derived from V085065a.
poorppl. "POOR PEOPLE". Derived from V085064k.
richppl. "RICH PEOPLE". Derived from V085065b.
whiteppl. "WHITE PEOPLE". Derived from V085065c.
muslims. "MUSLIMS". Derived from V085065e.
christians. "CHRISTIANS". Derived from V085065g.
atheists. "ATHEISTS". Derived from V085065h. 


interest. "Interest in Politics and Elections". Derived from V085072.

Some people seem to follow what's going on in government
and public affairs most of the time, whether there's an
election going on or not. Others aren't that interested.
Would you say you follow what's going on in government
and public affairs MOST OF THE TIME, SOME OF THE TIME,
ONLY NOW AND THEN, or HARDLY AT ALL?
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1. Most of the time
2. Some of the time
3. Only now and then
4. Hardly at all

voted2004. "Did R vote for President in 2004". Derived from V083007.
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1. Yes, voted
5. No, didn't vote

internet. "Does R have access to the internet". Derived from V083018.
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1. Yes
5. No

tvnewsdays. "How many days in the PAST WEEK did you watch the NATIONAL network 
news on TV?" Derived from V083019.
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0. None
1. One day
2. Two days
3. Three days
4. Four days
5. Five days
6. Six days
7. Seven days

tvnewsattention. "How much attention do you pay to news on NATIONAL news shows 
about the campaign for President -- A GREAT DEAL, QUITE A BIT, 
SOME, VERY LITTLE, or NONE?" Derived from V083019a.
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1. A great deal
2. Quite a bit
3. Some
4. Very little
5. None

righttrack. "Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the 
RIGHT DIRECTION, or do you feel things have pretty seriously 
gotten off on the WRONG TRACK?" Derived from V083027.
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1. Right direction
5. Wrong track
